LONDON: Australia coach Tim Sheens is to become director of rugby at Super League strugglers Salford, owner Marwan Koukash said Tuesday.
Sheens, 64, had a month with Salford in an advisory capacity earlier this year and will now return to the north-west side in a full-time post, with Koukash saying he could be at the club within a week.
The 64-year-old Sheens spent a month with the Red Devils working in an advisory role earlier this year and will now return in a formal capacity.
"The club have agreed to appoint Tim Sheens as director of rugby," Koukash told a press conference on Tuesday.
"I hope he will be with us in a week or so. I need Tim's help to ensure we recruit the right people to this club."
Should Sheens take up the Salford position, it could well signal the end of his seven years in charge of Australia.
His 12-month contract expires at the end of this year and the Kangaroos' next Test isn't until a mid-season clash against New Zealand in 2016.
Sheens presided over Australia's 2013 World Cup triumph and won 26 of his 31 Tests in charge.
Only Bob Fulford, with 40 Tests, has had more games as Australia coach.
However, Australia have lost their last three Tests against the Kiwis.
Koukash added Sheens will be at Salford, currently second bottom in Super League, until the end of the season but that he could remain with the club for some time afterwards.
The Salford owner stressed Sheens's arrival would not affect Iestyn Harris's position as head coach.
"Obviously to start with Tim is on a short-term contract until the end of the season but it wouldn't surprise me if he stayed on for two more years after that," Koukash said.
"He will help the club in many ways. I want to invest in youth and I need Tim's help to ensure we recruit the players who will be proud to play for the club.
"Iestyn Harris is still the head coach. He has worked with Tim Sheens before and Tim's appointment has no bearing on Harris' position."
Sheens began his coaching career at Penrith in 1984 and was appointed coach of the New South Wales' State of Origin team in 1991.
He succeeded Ricky Stuart as Kangaroos coach following Australia's 2008 World Cup final defeat by New Zealand.
Meanwhile Koukash, a successful businessman and noted racehorse owner who rescued Salford from the brink of financial collapse two-and-a-half years ago, refuted claims by overseas players Kevin Locke and Tony Puletua that they were owed wages.
"I would like to make it clear to everyone, that since I took over the club that players have always been paid on time and in full," he said.
"Don't go out there and say you haven't been paid. People who do that are liars and money-grabbers."
Salford have agreed to release Locke but said they would be pursuing him for damages.
"The club have today responded to Kevin and have decided to accept his resignation with immediate effect but we hold Kevin fully responsible for the damages caused by his actions and the club will 100 percent pursue Kevin for those damages," Koukash said.
"We paid a substantial fee to the New Zealand Warriors for Kevin who was the highest-paid player in Super League but I don't think we got value for money."
Comments
Comments are closed.